Amplifier with stabilization means

ABSTRACT

An amplifier comprising an input stage (IP ST ) having a pair of inputs (INN,INI) for receiving a differential input signal (V in ) and a pair of outputs (CQ 6 ,CQ 7 ) for delivering a differential intermediate signal in response to the differential input signal (V in ); an intermediate stage (INT ST ) for converting the differential intermediate signal to a non-differential intermediate signal, which intermediate stage (INT ST ) comprises a current mirror (Q 5 ,R 5 ,Q 4 ,R 4 ) having an input branch (Q 5 ,R 5 ) and an output branch (Q 4 ,R 4 ) for receiving the differential intermediate signal; an output stage (OP ST ) having an input coupled to the output branch (Q 4 ,R 4 ) and having an output for delivering an output signal (V out ) to an output (OP) of the amplifier; and means for stabilizing the amplifier. The means for stabilizing the amplifier comprises a capacitor (C M2 ) coupled between the output (OP) of the amplifier and the input branch (Q 5 ,R 5 ), and provides a large bandwidth and low supply voltage amplifier.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/439,238, filed Nov. 12, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,366,165, issued on Apr. 2, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an amplifier comprising an input stage having a pair of inputs for receiving a differential input signal and a pair of outputs for delivering a differential intermediate signal in response to the differential input signal; an intermediate stage for converting the differential intermediate signal to a non-differential intermediate signal, which intermediate stage comprises a current mirror having an input branch and an output branch for receiving the differential intermediate signal; an output stage having an input coupled to the output branch and having an output for delivering an output signal to an output of the amplifier; and means for stabilizing the amplifier.

2. Description of Related Art

Such an amplifier is known from the general state of the art as shown in FIG. 1. The known amplifier has a first reference terminal V_(EE) and a second reference terminal V_(CC). A supply voltage source SV for biasing the amplifier is connected between the first reference terminal V_(EE) and the second reference terminal V_(CC). The known amplifier further comprises an input stage IP_(ST), an intermediate stage INT_(ST), and an output stage OP_(ST). The input stage IP_(ST) comprises a transistor Q₆ and a transistor Q₇, which are arranged as a differential pair. The bases of the transistors Q₆ and Q₇ are connected to a pair of inputs INN,INI to which a differential input signal V_(in) is supplied. The emitters of the transistors Q₆ and Q₇ are connected to a current source I₆ for biasing the differential pair. The differential pair delivers a differential intermediate signal at the collectors CQ₆ and CQ₇ of the transistors Q₆ and Q₇, respectively. The intermediate stage INT_(ST) has an input branch comprising a series arrangement of a resistor R₅ and a transistor Q₅. The transistor Q₅ is arranged as a diode. The intermediate stage INT_(ST) further has an output branch comprising a series arrangement of a resistor R₄ and a transistor Q₄. The base of the transistor Q₄ is connected to the base of transistor Q₅. The input branch and the output branch are coupled between the first reference terminal V_(EE) and the second reference terminal V_(CC). The input branch and the output branch are biased by current sources I₅ and I₄, respectively. The output stage OP_(ST) comprises a transistor Q₂ having a base coupled to the collector of transistor Q₄, an emitter coupled to the first reference terminal V_(EE), and a collector coupled to the input of a current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃. The input of the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ is formed by a diode-connected transistor Q₃. The output of the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ is formed by the collector of the transistor Q₁₃. The base and emitter of the transistor Q₁₃ are coupled to the base and the emitter of the transistor Q₃, respectively. The transistor Q₁₃ is biased by a current source I₃. The output stage OP_(ST) further comprises a transistor Q₁, which is biased by a current source I₁. A base of the transistor Q₁ is coupled to the collector of the transistor Q₁₃. A collector of the transistor Q₁ is coupled to the output OP of the amplifier to deliver an output signal V_(out). An emitter of transistor Q₁ is coupled to the first reference terminal V_(EE). Miller capacitors C_(M1) and C_(M2) for stabilizing the amplifier are coupled between the output OP and the base of transistor Q₁, and between the output OP and the base of transistor Q₂, respectively.

The principle of operation of the known amplifier as shown in FIG. 1 is as follows. The differential pair Q₆,Q₇ converts the differential input signal V_(in) into currents of opposite phases, which are delivered by the collectors CQ₆ and CQ₇. The intermediate stage INT_(ST) converts these currents into a single current, which is delivered by the collector of transistor Q₄. This single current is then amplified and converted by the output stage OP_(ST) in order to deliver the output signal V_(out) of the amplifier. In order to obtain a stable amplifier, the amplifier may include only one gain-stage with a so-called dominant pole and it may further include stages with non-dominant poles. If the Miller capacitors C_(M1) and C_(M2) are disregarded then the amplifier comprises in fact three gain stages, each with a dominant pole. The input stage IP_(ST) and the intermediate stage INT_(ST) form together a first gain stage with a first dominant pole at the collector of the transistor Q₄. The transistor Q₂ and the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ form together a second gain stage with a second dominant pole at the collector of transistor Q₁₃. The transistor Q₁ is a third gain stage with a third dominant pole at the output OP. The Miller capacitor C_(M1) performs pole splitting, i.e. the third dominant pole becomes non-dominant while the second dominant pole becomes even more dominant. The Miller capacitor C_(M2) also performs pole splitting, i.e. the first dominant pole becomes even more dominant while the second dominant pole becomes, in comparison with the first dominant pole, non-dominant. Thus, the amplifier has only one dominant pole at the collector of transistor Q₄. Therefore, the components of the amplifier can be dimensioned quite easily in order to obtain a stable operation of the amplifier. The Miller compensation technique for stabilizing the amplifier in the manner as shown in FIG. 1 is known as the nested Miller compensation technique since it comprises a first Miller loop formed by the transistor Q₁ and the Miller capacitor C_(M1), and a second Miller loop formed by the transistor Q₂, the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ and the first Miller loop. Thus, the first Miller loop is nested within the second Miller loop. The function of the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ is to obtain a correct phase relationship within the second Miller loop.

A problem of the known amplifier is that the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ must handle a relatively large base current of transistor Q₁ and therefore the transistors Q₃ and Q₁₃ must have relatively large dimensions. In the quiescent state of the amplifier the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ is biased by a relatively small current so that the transit frequency of the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ is relatively low, which adversely influences the maximum bandwidth of the amplifier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved amplifier with an extended bandwidth.

To this end, according to the invention, the amplifier of the type defined in the opening paragraph is characterized in that the means for stabilizing the amplifier include a capacitor coupled between the output of the amplifier and the input branch of the intermediate stage.

The invention is based on the insight that the current mirror already available within the intermediate stage INT_(ST) can also be used in a respective Miller loop to stabilize the amplifier as an alternative to the above-mentioned second Miller loop without causing a wrong phase relationship in the respective Miller loop. As a consequence, the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ is not necessary in the respective Miller loop. Therefore, the maximum bandwidth of the amplifier is extended.

In the general state of the art another solution is known for the above-mentioned problem caused by the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃. The solution is the use of a differential stage in the output stage OP_(ST) instead of the transistor Q₂ and the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃. This solution, however, causes another problem: the differential stage cannot function properly at a low supply voltage. The amplifier according to the invention does not have a differential stage in the output stage OP_(ST). Therefore, the amplifier according to the invention has a large bandwidth and can also function properly at a low supply voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a known amplifier;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a second embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a third embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a fourth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a fifth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a sixth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a seventh embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of an eighth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a ninth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of a tenth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of an eleventh embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of a twelfth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention; and

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of an amplifier with a modification in respect to the circuit diagram of FIG. 13.

In these Figures parts or elements having like functions or purposes bear the same reference symbols.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a first embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. An important difference with the circuit of FIG. 1 is that the Miller capacitor C_(M2) is connected to the input branch Q₅,R₅ of the intermediate stage INT_(ST) instead of to the base of the transistor Q₂. As a consequence the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ in the known circuit of FIG. 1 is not necessary in the circuit of FIG. 2. Therefore, the collector of the transistor Q₂ is connected to the base of transistor Q₁. Thus, the intermediate stage INT_(ST) has a double function: converting the differential intermediate signal from the collectors CQ₆ and CQ₇ into a non-differential signal at the collector of transistor Q₄, and functioning as a current mirror in a respective Miller loop with regard to the capacitor C_(M2). The connection of the Miller capacitor C_(M2) to the input branch Q₅,R₅ is, by way of example, made by connecting the Miller capacitor C_(M2) to the base and the collector of the transistor Q₅. As an alternative, the capacitor C_(M2) can be connected to the emitter of the transistor Q₅.

Although the Miller capacitor C_(M2) creates a well defined dominant pole, the two non-dominant poles turn out to be complex, which might reduce the stability of the amplifier. This is caused by the fact that there is no capacitor connected to the base of transistor Q₂. Therefore, the base of transistor Q₂ is uncontrolled for high frequencies. The stability of the amplifier can be further improved if a capacitor C_(M3) is arranged in parallel with the output branch Q₄,R₄. By way of example, the capacitor C_(M3) is connected between the base of the transistor Q₂ and the first reference terminal V_(EE). Since normally the first and the second reference terminal V_(EE),V_(CC) are decoupled, at least for high frequencies, the capacitor C_(M3) may also be connected between the base of the transistor Q₂ and the second reference terminal V_(CC). By the aforementioned decoupling the capacitor C_(M3) is then also arranged in parallel with the output branch Q₄,R₄. The capacitor C_(M3) slightly reduces the bandwidth of the amplifier, but this reduction can, at least partly, be avoided by inserting a resistor in series with the capacitor C_(M3). The value of the capacitor C_(M3) is not critical and must only be sufficient to avoid complex poles. The value of the capacitor C_(M3) need not be matched to other capacitors. For this reason the capacitor C_(M3) can be formed by a low-quality and compact capacitor such as a junction capacitor.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of a second embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. In comparison with the circuit of FIG. 2 the following components have been added: transistors Q₁₆, Q₁₇, Q₁₅, and Q₁₄; resistors R₁₅ and R₁₄; and current sources I₁₆ and I₁₅. These components are connected together in a manner similar to the transistors Q₆, Q₇, Q₅, and Q₄; the resistors R₅ and R₄; and the current sources I₆ and I₅. The elements of the following pairs have a mutually similar operation: Q₁₆,Q₆; Q₁₇,Q₇; Q₁₅,Q₅; Q₁₄,Q₄; R₁₅,R₅; R₁₄,R₄; I₁₆,I₆; I₁₅,I₅. The bases of the transistors Q₁₆ and Q₁₇ are, respectively, connected to the inverting input INI and the non-inverting input INN. The collector of transistor Q₁₄ is connected to the base of transistor Q₁. The function of the addition of the above-mentioned components is to form a low-gain and high-frequency path between the inputs INI,INN and the input of the output stage Q₁. This has the advantageous effect that the bandwidth of the amplifier is further enhanced significantly without the stability of the amplifier being reduced.

In order to obtain a higher low-frequency gain of the amplifier extra gain stages can be used in the output stage OP_(ST). Naturally, also extra Miller capacitors are needed to stabilize the amplifier. In the known amplifier as shown in FIG. 1 the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ can be replaced by a so called common emitter stage (or a common source stage) because like the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ a common emitter stage also inverts the phase of a signal applied to it. Then there is no need to connect the capacitor C_(M2) to the input branch Q₅,R₅. However, if it is desired to use an even number of extra gain stages instead of an odd number of extra gain stages, the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ cannot be removed because otherwise the phase relationship in the respective Miller loops would not be correct. However, the use of an amplifier according to the invention enables an even number of gain stages to be used without the current mirror Q₃,Q₁₃ being needed.

An example of an even number of extra gain stages in the amplifier according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4. In this example two extra (common emitter) gain stages are used: a transistor Q_(EX1) biased by a current source I_(EX1), and a transistor Q_(EX2) biased by a current source I_(EX2). Also two extra capacitors C_(EX1) and C_(EX2) are added in order to stabilize the amplifier. The capacitor C_(EX1) is connected between the base and the collector of the transistor Q_(EX1), and the capacitor C_(EX2) is connected between the output OP and the base of the transistor Q_(EX1).

FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram of a fourth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. This embodiment is a variant of the circuit as shown in FIG. 2. The amplifier has a so called rail-to-rail output stage formed by the transistor Q₁ and a transistor Q₁₀₀. The amplifier further comprises a mesh formed by transistors Q₂₀₃, Q₂₀₄, Q₂₀₄₁, and Q₂₀₃₁. The mesh drives the transistors Q₂ and Q₁₀₃ with signals injected by transistors Q₄ and Q₇. The mesh can be controlled at the base of transistor Q₂₀₃₁ by a control voltage V_(AB) in order to obtain a feedback class AB biasing of the transistors Q₁ and Q₁₀₀. Capacitors C_(M1A) and C_(M3A) are added in order to stabilize the amplifier. Capacitor C_(M1A) is connected between the output OP and the base of the transistor Q₁₀₀, while the capacitor C_(M3A) is connected between the base and the emitter of the transistor Q₁₀₃.

FIG. 6 shows a circuit diagram of a fifth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. This embodiment is a variant of the circuit as shown in FIG. 5, i.e. that the amplifier has been provided with a class AB control circuit for supplying the control voltage V_(AB). The class AB control circuit is formed by transistors Q₁₁₀, Q₁₁₁, Q₁₁₂, Q₁₁₃, Q₁₁₄, and Q₁₁₅, which drive the mesh. The transistor Q₁₁₀ measures, in an indirect way, the current through the transistor Q₁₀₀ and generates a voltage across a resistor R₁₁₄. The current of the transistor Q₁ is measured by the transistor Q₁₁₁ and is mirrored by the current mirror Q₁₁₃,Q₁₁₅, which as a consequence generates a voltage across a resistor R₁₁₂. The diode-connected transistors Q₁₁₂ and Q₁₁₄, form a selector for selecting the lower of the two voltages across the resistors R₁₁₂ and R₁₁₄. The control voltage V_(AB) is thus derived from the lower of the two voltages across the resistors R₁₁₂ and R₁₁₄. Transistors Q₂₀₃ and Q₂₀₃₁ form a class AB amplifier and create a class AB feedback loop by controlling the bases of the transistors Q₁₀₃ and Q₂, which drive the transistors Q₁ and Q₁₀₀. The voltage difference between the bases of the transistors Q₂₀₃ and Q₂₀₃₁ is regulated to virtually zero. As a consequence, the control voltage V_(AB) is equal to a reference voltage V_(REF) across the series arrangement of a diode-connected transistor Q₂₁₉ and a resistor R₂₁₉. Since the transistor Q₂₁₉ and the resistor R₂₁₉ are biased by a current source I₂₁₉, the reference voltage V_(REF), and as a consequence the control voltage V_(AB), is determined by the current delivered by the current source I₂₁₉. The transistors Q₁ and Q₁₀₀ are controlled in such a way that they are biased with at least a certain minimum current. A feed forward path is used to stabilize the class AB feedback loop. The feed forward path is obtained by the use of a feed forward amplifier Q₂₁₃,Q₂₁₃₁, which drives the transistors Q₁ and Q₁₀₀ via current mirrors Q₂₁₆₁,Q₂₁₆₃ and Q₂₁₆₀,Q₂₁₆₂.

FIG. 7 shows a circuit diagram of a sixth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. This embodiment is a variant of the circuit as shown in FIG. 6. In a manner similar to and for the same reason as stated with reference to in FIG. 3, a feed forward path, created by the transistors Q₁₆ and Q₁₇, is added. The output signals of the feed forward input stage Q₁₆, Q₁₇ are combined by a summing circuit formed by transistors Q₂₁₅ and Q₂₁₇ and resistors R₂₁₅ and R₂₁₇. The output current of the summing circuit is delivered by the transistors Q₂₁₇ and Q₁₇ and flows through the transistors Q₂₁₃ and Q₂₁₃₁ and is used to drive the transistors Q₁ and Q₁₀₀ via the current mirrors Q₂₁₆₁,Q₂₁₆₃ and Q₂₁₆₀,Q₂₁₆₂.

FIG. 8 shows a circuit diagram of a seventh embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. This embodiment is a so called BiCMOS version of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 7. The use of bipolar transistors and CMOS transistors gives the advantages of a high gain, a high bandwidth, a low input offset, and a high output current capability at the output OP. Though the resistors R₅, R₄, R₂₁₅, and R₂₁₇ as indicated in FIG. 7 are not necessary in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 they may also be included in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show circuit diagrams of an eight and a ninth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. The topologies of these circuits are almost the same as those of the previously discussed circuits. However, an alternative for the class AB control circuit is provided by the arrangement of transistors Q₁₁₀-Q₁₁₅.

FIG. 11 shows a circuit diagram of a tenth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. In this embodiment NPN transistors are combined with PMOS transistors. With this embodiment a very powerful circuit is obtained in BiCMOS technology. NPN transistors have usually a much better performance than PNP transistors. NPN transistors can handle much higher currents, have a higher current gain, and have a much higher transit frequency. PMOS transistors are the best complementary devices and also have a better performance than PNP transistors.

The transistors Q₁ and Q₁₀₀ form a so called all-NPN output stage. The NPN transistor Q₁ is driven by a PMOS transistor Q₁₀₃, while the NPN transistor Q₁₀₀ is driven by the PMOS transistor Q₂. The PMOS transistors Q₂ and Q₁₀₃ are driven by the PNP transistors Q₇ and Q₆ of the input stage IP_(ST), via NPN cascode transistors Q₂₀₁ and Q₂₀₃. Since the NPN transistor Q₁₀₀ is arranged as a so called emitter follower, it does not invert signals. As a consequence, the combination of the PMOS transistor Q₂ and the NPN transistor Q₁₀₀ can be stabilized in conventional manners. The combination of the PMOS transistor Q₁₀₃ and NPN transistor Q₁ consists of two inverting stages and can therefore not be stabilized in a conventional way. It is therefore stabilized by capacitors C_(M1) and C_(M2). The capacitor C_(M1) is connected between the output OP and the base of the NPN transistor Q₁. The capacitor C_(M2) is connected between the output OP and the gate of the PMOS transistor Q₁₀₃ via the current mirror formed by the NMOS transistors Q₅ and Q₂₀₇ and the NPN transistors Q₂₂₁ and Q₂₀₃.

A feed forward path is created using NPN transistors Q₁₆ and Q₁₇ of the input stage IP_(ST) in order to further extend the bandwidth of the amplifier.

FIG. 12 shows a circuit diagram of an eleventh embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. This embodiment is a variant of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 11. A class AB control circuit is added comprising NPN transistors Q₁₁₀-Q₁₁₈ in order to correctly bias the NPN transistors Q₁ and Q₁₀₀. A feed forward path for the class AB feedback loop is created by a PMOS transistor Q₂₁₀ and a current mirror comprising NPN transistors Q₂₃₁, Q₂₁₁, and Q₂₁₃, which current mirror directly drives the transistors Q₁ and Q₁₀₀.

FIG. 13 shows a circuit diagram of a twelfth embodiment of an amplifier according to the invention. This embodiment is a variant of the circuits as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. An important difference is that the current mirrors Q₂₁₆₀,Q₂₁₆₂ and Q₂₁₆₁,Q₂₁₆₃ are formed by means of NMOS transistors instead of PMOS transistors. By so doing a so called folded structure is obtained. This has the advantage that the amplifier can operate on an even lower supply voltage. A supply voltage equal to one gate-source voltage plus one saturation voltage is then sufficient.

FIG. 14 shows a circuit diagram of an amplifier which has been modified with respect to the circuit diagram of FIG. 13. The current mirrors Q₂₁₆₀,Q₂₁₆₂ and Q₂₁₆₁,Q₂₁₆₃ are now used not only by the feed forward path of the class AB control loop but also by the signals injected by the transistors Q₂ and Q₁₀₃. 

We claim:
 1. An amplifier comprising: an input stage having a pair of inputs for receiving a pair of differential input signals and a pair of outputs for delivering a pair of differential intermediate signals in response to the pair of differential input signals; an intermediate stage for converting the pair of differential intermediate signals to a single non-differential intermediate signal, said intermediate stage comprising a current mirror having an input branch and an output branch for receiving the pair of intermediate signals, and wherein only the output branch provides the single non-differential intermediate signal; a non-differential output stage having an input coupled to the output branch for receiving the single non-differential intermediate signal from the intermediate stage, and producing therefrom an output for delivering an output signal to an output of the amplifier; and a stabilizing circuit comprising a capacitor coupled between the output of the amplifier and the input branch of the intermediate stage.
 2. An amplifier having a pair of differential input signals and an amplifier output comprising: an input stage configured to receive the pair of differential input signals and to produce therefrom a pair of differential outputs; an intermediate stage, operably coupled to the input stage, that includes an input branch and an output branch, wherein the input branch is configured to receive at least one of the pair of differential output signals from the input stage, and only the output branch is configured to provide a single non-differential output signal, based on the pair of differential output signals from the input stage; a non-differential output stage, operably coupled to the intermediate stage, that is configured to receive the single non-differential output signal from the output branch of the intermediate stage and to produce therefrom the amplifier output; and a feedback capacitor that is configured to couple the amplifier output to the input branch of the intermediate stage.
 3. The amplifier of claim 2, wherein the non-differential output stage includes: an output device having an input node and an output node, the output node providing the amplifier output, based on a voltage at the input node, and a second capacitor that is configured to couple the output node to the input node of the output device.
 4. The amplifier of claim 3, further including a third capacitor that is configured to couple the non-differential output to a supply voltage.
 5. The amplifier of claim 2, further including an other capacitor that is configured to couple the non-differential output to a supply voltage. 